Side Imaging as good as it looks????

[Innkeepers]

With the new zones soon to be implemented for Moreton Bay, we're going to upgrade from our "toy" fish finder to a higher resolution combo unit to be able to use chartplotting and also get a better sounder. We thought it would come down to a choice between Garmin or Lowrance/Eagle. However, we've just discovered the Humminbird site with the side imaging technology and if it's anywhere near as good in practise as it looks on the demo video's then it has our interest. Also the new 798 model has 640X640 screen res on a 5" screen so should be good for detail.. also 2 SD card slots would improve the recording options.

Does any have a Humminbird Side Imaging model and if so how do you find it for reliability and perfomance????

Cheers
Rick & Julie

[finding_time]

Rick and Julie

Side imaging for open waters is fantastic in units designed for open waters good ones start at around $75 000 and are that good they can find and identify small guns in 100m of water ! What Hummingbird units are alright for is dam and river work period! They just do not have either the output of sensitivity for open waters, if you spend the same money and buy a quality furuno sounder it will be by far the better option for your intented use imho!


Ian

[MeePee_99]

I am also looking into buying one and from what i have heard they are awesome, clear, accurate and allow you to cover more ground alot quicker.

[TheRealAndy]

I was talking to an owner of a hummingbird sidscan sonar and he reckons its the ducks nuts and would never go back. He also said its no good in over 30m or thereabouts, so if you are fishing deep, then forget it or double up with another sounder. Sidescan should do just about everywhere in the moreton bay.

[TimiBoy]

I have a 797 C2i, and it does a fine job. Good to maybe 30 metres - ask Cheech or Wags on the water about the pics we saw of Curtin. Unbelievable. The stuff in their promos is accurate, and the result is easy to achieve.

If you are a Moreton Bay fisho (or creeks and dams), go for it, I reckon, but if you only want it for outside, discount the SI as anything other than a toy. The sounder itself is good though, and the res is good.

I don't use the GPS side of it, as I have a rather nice Furuno for that...

Cheers,

Tim

[Innkeepers]

Thanks to all for taking the time to give us your thoughts on this.

Yes, we only have a small tinnie and usually play between South end of Bribie to Scarborough and up Pumicestone Passsage to Lime Pocket.

We were hoping the side imaging feature would unlock some of the mysteries of spots like Buckleys Hole and the Bribie Bridge and some of the creeks further up the passage.

When you're cruising around on the water it soon becomes apparent that there really is a lot of water to cover and who knows what is under it all.
Someone once said that 95% of the fish are in 5% of the water.

Good to hear your comments Tim....from someone who actually uses one.
Many Thanks
Rick & Julie

[Willow1]

Hi Rick, I have the 1197 Hummingbird and have had it for some time now. Excellent unit. I frequent the shoals and reefs offshore up here in NQ and can tell you it has been invaluble to me. Some coordinates given to me were not correct/ accurate so I just put on the side imaging on maximum width and look for the bumps etc then mark it and shorten the side imaging distance and move closer to bring up better detail. Would have taken me ages to find if I did not have the side imaging. Invest and you wont regret. The photos and detail taken by this unit are excellent. Cheers Shane